Lance Was Right

By Steve | Published: March 21, 2009

Lance was right on when he said “It’s not about the bike”. It’s not about the bike as physical matter, or cycling as an activity, profession, or way of life. But what is it about? Is it about family? Is it about maintaining a sense of self love while focusing on selfless acts to others? Is it about health? Is it about kindness? Is it about humility? Is it about perseverance and triumph? When a homeless person asks you for change, what do you do? Do you walk away? Do you toss him some change? Or do you walk around the corner with him and buy him the first real breakfast he may have had in years? Or are you so moved by what you see that you make life altering decisions to help make a difference in the world by leveraging your passions and using them as super hero powers to right the wrong in the world: or in the City of Philadelphia, as Anne Mahlum has done with her organization “Back on My Feet” which gets Philly’s homeless on their feet and running for a better life. Anne gets it.

A lot of multisport athletes in our region “get it”. I think by nature, most do in fact. They understand that their race times are really irrelevant in the big picture and what matters most is finding ways to make our sport better from the humanitarian side of things. How can we use our sport to make things better in the universe? It’s not necessarily about how much faster a race director can design a bike course, it’s about how a race director can design an event that in and of itself will create a fostering and empowering environment for athletes of all walks of life to have a challenging yet positive experience. An event that can change a person’s life. But at the same time, you want the mission statement of the race director to spread virally to all of the athletes so that they can turn around and use their tools, passions, and skills, to also make a difference. It trickles down and everyone plays a part. It sounds like I just described organizations like the Columbia Triathlon Association, Richmond Multisport, or the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon team.

They all get it. As do many others. Like Midge and Tim Kerr. For decades Tim Kerr has used his Avalon New Jersey road race as a major charitable event which the city and athletes have embraced and are proud to be a part of. In recent years Midge’s multisport events such as the Avalon Islandman, and her Youth Multisport Series have taken hold and are garnishing the same success. The Kerrs get it…. All seven of them.

Is it about spreading good karma, just because? Is it about all of the above and volumes more? Yep. But how does one attempt to be all and do all of that? Is it active or a passive? Does one need to make a conscious decision to engage to do and be all of those things that matter? Or does it just happen? Is there one common denominator that, if possessed, will allow someone to not only understand what it’s all about, but actually live and BE what it’s all about?

The short answer is yes – there is a common denominator that sets people apart. A common thread that people who “get it” have; or actually lack. It is sometimes a learned trait developed over time but a person can be born with it as well. If you have it, you can usually spot it in others in a matter of minutes. The common thread that identifies and unites these people to focus on the right things and inherently just “do what’s right” is the fact that when faced with a choice or when faced with a situation forcing them to react or respond, these folks fail to ask W.I.I.F.M. (I’ll explain later)

Be great out there but be humble. You can be an excellent role model by never asking the question W.I.I.F.M. and by asking the questions, “What’s the right thing to do”? and “How can I help”? Race and train with that mindset, live your life with that mission and the good will come back to you in triplicate and you will make a difference in the lives of many people just by “being”.

And oh yeah – “W.I.I.F.M.” simply means “What’s in it for me”? If that question is NOT in your vocabulary, you will flourish.

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Remembering Brad

By Steve | Published: March 20, 2009

1148Brad Schoener was a music director in the Upper Darby Pennsylvania school district for 25 years. He lost a 5 year battle with cancer in March but not before having an amazingly positive impact on the lives of countless people of all ages. Brad was loved everywhere he went and helped mold the future paths of so many children through his passion for music and his ability to bring out that passion in his students. I was fortunate to have known Brad on a couple of levels and have reflected a few of my thoughts …

To say that Brad Schoener was loved is an understatement. Brad radiated passion, commitment, dedication, and joy for his kids and music with every fiber of his existence. There was a piece of Brad left behind in everything that he did and he left an imprint on every person that he touched. And he touched thousands upon thousands. He had an aura. You could feel it when he walked into a room with his head held high or took his position in front of one of his bands. You could see it in his smile. You could see it in his pony tail, and you could see it in the funky socks he wore for performances.

When Brad was diagnosed with a rare cancer, we saw a man who looked straight down the barrel of the gun of his cancer. We saw a warrior who ferociously battled an illness tooth and nail with everything that he had. Brad may have taken some hard hits; but he delivered even greater ones. He kicked cancer square in the face and did damage to his opponent … repeatedly. We saw a man unleash the strength, conviction, and fortitude of a gladiator. When I was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, we shared our appreciation for our lives and the people in them. We discussed everything from diets and support systems to doctors and drugs and I got a closer look at just how powerful this man was. And through it all, his passion and commitment for the things that he loved – his kids, and his music, never wavered. With each knock down, Brad bounced back up higher, stronger, and with even greater belief in the possibilities.

Two years ago, Brad approached me with the goal of wanting to do a triathlon. He knew this was my love and came to me for tips, suggestions, and training advice. I set him up with everything that I thought he needed, including entry into the Avalon Islandman sprint distance triathlon. I was overjoyed at the opportunity of being able to give something back to the guy who, as a band director, had given so much to my own daughters and who had enriched our family’s lives with his gifts. My wife and I were at the 2007 Avalon Islandman both as volunteers and as supporters of Brad. We saw him multiple times throughout the race and each time we did, we saw a smile on him from ear to ear. It was yet another example of Brad taking on a challenge and devouring it with the same lust and drive in which he lived his life. The experience was so positive for him that he came back again to race in 2008, significantly bettering his overall time and placement in the race.

Although a loss like this is painful, we can’t lose focus of the brilliant way that Brad Schoener lived every minute of his life. We need to celebrate the legacy that Brad has left behind. Brad touched souls and made people better as a result of knowing him. For that matter, he just flat out made the world a better and brighter place. He accomplished the kind of greatness that most people can only dream of and I feel blessed for having been able to connect with him on multiple levels.

Post script – I received the below note from Brad’s wife ….

Brad loved the triathlon so much — he had a “dream page” that he made that he would focus on at night to empower him to conquer the cancer. SO MANY of the photos on that page are of the triathlon… it gave him so much strength mentally and spiritually as well as physically. I am so grateful to you for all the support and encouragement you’ve given Brad over the years — he always spoke very fondly of you and was ALWAYS ready for the next race… I remember he was crushed when the dr. in Mexico told him not to expect to race this year because he would be too tired…. Brad never planned to stop… he was looking for a way to work around it!

Peace Brad Schoener and thank you.

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Leukemia Lessons Learned

By Steve | Published: March 15, 2009

The top 10 lessons I have learned during my initial diagnosis, treatment and now remission (3 years) phases of my leukemia …

1). Blood cancers do not play by any rules. No logical ones anyway.

2). Stuff can happen to anybody. And it’s not the “stuff” that measures our character, it’s how we react and respond to that “stuff”.

3). The internet is full of as much useless information as useful. Talk to doctors and choose your websites and content wisely. Don’t just blindly search a disease.

4). Some friends and family will shy away from you not because they don’t care; but because they just don’t know what to say or do and would rather avoid the situation. It’s not personal. It’s just their way of coping with someone else’s illness.

5). A strong mind and will is an amazing force and should not be underestimated.

6). Support crews are critical.

7). Chemotherapy nurses are among the most special people on the planet.

8). Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get second and third opinions.

9). Take things one step at a time.

10). Some incredibly positive things can be done with what might initially seem like very negative news.

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The Importance of Being HERE

By Steve | Published: March 5, 2009

I was a soccer player in my former life ( a goalkeeper). One of my goalkeeping idols back in the day was New York Cosmos goalie Shep Messing. Shep was a pretty wild and flamboyant guy and a brilliant goalkeeper. I had the pleasure of connecting with him a few years ago and he made a comment to me which turned out to be sort of like a mantra for me and is actually great advice. He said that after so many years of playing such a high level of international soccer, he is now content to practice yoga and is happy to just be where his feet are. “Be where your feet are”. THAT is such a powerful statement when we think about the importance of living your life in the moment. I find myself repeating that when things start to get away from me. Often times we get so caught up in the millions of thoughts and plans that race through our minds on a daily basis that we forget about the things that are right in front of us. I find myself also using this mantra while racing and training when things start to feel just a little “off”.

Side note – My other goalkeeping idol back then was a young kid right from the Philly area. A goalie out of Ridley High School named Bobby Rigby. Bobby led the surge of the rebirth of American Soccer and graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine in 1973. After his long and illustrious career, it’s nice to find Bob right back at Ridley High School giving back and paying things forward as a school counselor. Rigs is another guy that I have been fortunate enough to connect with at this stage in my life. He is a great guy making a difference.

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Keeping Demons at Your Back

By Steve | Published: March 2, 2009

When I was diagnosed my treatment protocol was one week of chemo then three weeks off. I repeated that for four treatment cycles initially and then had some maintenance treatments every six months for two years. I have always been a fitness junkie so I was a little unsure how treatments would impact my lifestyle – which could have had a pretty negative impact on me emotionally. Luckily, my doctor and I “reached an agreement” (more on that someday) and he allowed me to continue to train through and in between treatments as long as I felt good. When I was tired, I promised I would rest. But when I felt good – I worked out.

Since I was treated as an out patient, I often ran back home after my chemo treatments. Part of it was to try to control SOMETHING in a relatively uncontrollable situation. Part of it was just to try to stay fit. But part of it was also to send a message to the cancer that I was not going to lay around the house and be a victim. This ended up being a very empowing move which I am sure aided my swift remission. Granted not everyone is a runner, but simply walking and moving or doing something during an illness and treatment can help keep you balanced and focused. And that sense of emotional well being and stability has to have a positive effect on your overall healing process.

Get out and move.Enjoy the moment, the day, the scenery, whatever. Just do yourself a favor and get active. It is one of the most effective methods of therapy around ! And it’s FREE.

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The Person Within

By Steve | Published: December 21, 2008

Did you ever stop and wonder what sets triathletes apart from other athletes? Or what sets them apart from the rest of society in general for that matter? I think about it all the time. There is something about this sport that fosters an incredible sense of brotherhood and camaraderie unlike any other. Something that is almost viral and infectious in nature. I’m a little unclear if it’s that individuals with particular personality traits are drawn to the sport of triathlon, or if the sport of triathlon does such a great job of promoting that environment that it further defines the individual. Probably a little of both but it makes for a pretty cool community of kindred spirits.

I’ve seen my share of examples of this over the years. I’ve witnessed guys giving up spare tubes before the start of a race. During one race in particular, a friend of mine missed an iron distance PR by 3 minutes, because he spent 10 minutes helping out a stranger struggling with a flat. And they were in the same age group! Days before a big race, how many times have we seen veteran athletes driving around the bike course in cars explaining each little turn and hill to nervous and apprehensive rookies? And how often have we seen chalk inscribed messages of inspiration along race courses meant to motivate the very same people that we are competing against? These are all examples of things we do without giving any second thought. We help out our brothers. We do whatever we can to help them have a good race and a more memorable and positive experience. Even if that means that their finish time ends up better than our own. We want everyone in this family to be successful.

When I think about all of the people that I have met as a result of this zany sport, I’m amazed at how prevalent this invisible thread or common link is that bonds us. The international community at large needs to take a few lessons from triathletes. I have very vivid memories of folks from various discussion forums offering advice, suggestions, and compassion for me as I prepared for my first iron distance race. And some of those same individuals were even more instrumental during race week as they took me under their wing and made sure that I wasn’t overlooking anything and that I had screwed by head on right.

These people were essentially strangers. Brought together only by our passion for the sport, but heavily invested in one another’s success. In most cases I couldn’t even tell you the names of their spouses or what they did for a living. But that never mattered. They were willing to drop what they were doing to help out an iron virgin. To be able to reflect back on a race and have lasting memories of individuals is icing on top of that finisher’s medal or certificate. And a treasure that will last much longer than the finisher’s tee shirt! You simply won’t find this kind interaction among most athletes in other sports.

So, let’s all do our part to keep the good karma alive and regenerating. Let’s all lend a helping hand or a shoulder whenever possible. Don’t forget to thank the volunteers who are sacrificing their time and energy to help you realize your dreams. Celebrate the fact that you have chosen to surround yourself with an amazingly fine yet rare group of positive individuals.

Take a look around before the start of a race and count your blessings and remind yourself of how fortunate you are to have the courage and ambition to even be there. And lastly, no matter what the outcome is, be proud of your accomplishments for what they mean to you, not how they may stack up against someone else. And should you have a “bad day”, make a note, learn a lesson. And move on.

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ChesapeakeMan Ultra Tri Race Report

By Steve | Published: October 1, 2008

n35561492398_4326ChesapeakeMan Ultra Distance Triathlon

2.4 mile swim/112 mile bike/26.2 mile run

September 27th, 2008

Well, the ChesapeakeMan Ultra Distance Triathlon is in the books. It was yet another memorable day, as ironman always is. I have recapped a few of the highlights and lowlights for your reading pleasure. Race day was Saturday, September 27. I was once again fortunate enough to be able to “borrow” the home of a friend, fellow Team in Training coach and athlete for race weekend. Her house is gorgeous and sits right on the bike course. I cruised down to the Cambridge Maryland area on Thursday to help out race director Rob Vigorito and crew with registration. I can’t say enough positive things about Vigorito or the Columbia Triathlon Association. They are a stand up organization who are into this sport for all of the right reasons. I did my thing at registration, meeting some old and new friends along the way. Then pigged out at the pasta dinner at the Hyatt Resort in Cambridge. After a cold beer with my buddy Kevin Kunkel (3rd place overall – great job Kev) from Reston Virginia, I made my way back to my borrowed house.

There in the driveway, about 50 yards from the house was a downed tree which blocked my way. I was forced to leave my car at that point and truck my gear through the fallen tree and up to the house. It was also pitch dark at that point so that made for an interesting little journey. Perhaps that was the first “event” of the weekend, but I did get through the jungle crawl with no problems. I made it to the front porch and stopped dead in my tracks and I stared at a bobcat – yes BOBCAT, who stared back at me and looked a little annoyed that I was on his turf. Wait, HIS turf ?? Jude is my friend, I was allowed to stay this weekend. Who was this dude and what was he doing on the porch? Fortunately, I didn’t have to answer any of those questions because my little buddy ran off into the woods. (I hope that’s where he ran). So, I passed the second event of the weekend which we’ll just call “Where the Wild Things Are”, and went to bed for the night.

Friday morning I jumped out of bed and searched the garage for something that I could use to disassemble that fallen tree. I found a nice sized bow saw and went to work. I guess that was my next weekend event and a nice pre race warm up. Friday was full of more registration help, gear bag packing, prerace meeting, and meeting up with a number of friends and general miscellaneous “what can I do with myself now to take the edge off” activity. Around dinner time, my wife MG, daughter Jennifer, and her boyfriend John made it to town and we ate at our favorite pre race place for grub, The Palace. My family is the ultimate support crew. They come out to every ironman event and spend the entire day volunteering and supporting my crazy passion. They love the people and camaraderie as much as I do and really enjoy being there. Then it was time to check and recheck a few dozen things – a few dozen times, then off to bed. It took me about 30 minutes to make a decision on what time I should set my alarm for. The ultimate decision was 4:30 AM, but that didn’t really matter because my buddy Kenny Modica decided to send me a text message me at 3 AM to wish me good luck. Thanks Ken.

Race morning had me up at 4:30 AM – no wait – 3 AM, that’s right. (Thanks again Kenny) But I faded in and out again until 4:30 and then threw down two cans of Ensure and a Cliff Bar and made my way to the start of the race. The plan was my family would grab a few more winks and meet me at the start. The weather forecast for the weekend was not good. A threatening tropical storm was making its way up the coast and in preparation, race director Rob Vigorito reconfigured the swim course to consist of two loops in a safer, more contained area of the river. It proved to be a good move. Shortly after the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, the rains came and stuck with us for the better part of the day.

I was feeling good at that point and expected a good second loop. Bad assumption. Driving wind and harder rain picked up for the rest of that loop. It made for a challenging ride but then again, it is ironman. If it were supposed to be easy, it would be called …. Golf or something. A couple of washed out roads added a new discipline to the race which I am calling “Cycle surfing”. And a flat tire added to the fun. BUT, I managed and made it back to transition to head out for the run.

The Chessyman run is interesting. It’s a 3 loop course which is great for seeing family, friends, and competitors. But, if your legs are spent, it can be demoralizing knowing that you have to repeat those same loops three times. The best part about the multi loop set up is that each time, we are able to run towards the high school and see family. My daughter Jennifer picked me up with each loop and ran the small jug handle with me while my wife shot some video. I used those 2 or 3 minutes with Jennifer as an opportunity to catch up and fill her in on my status. I remember at one point telling her that I felt nauseas but at the same time, craved a cheeseburger. Which really does make sense if you have ever been out there. It translates to “gels and Gatorade is making me want to yak, and I need a burger”.

In the dark of night, (and in the teeming rain), I concluded my final loop and headed in to the high school track to finish my day. As I entered the stadium I heard the voice of race director Rob Vigorito announcing the arrival of “Remissionman”. And with that, Jennifer ran to greet me and we crossed the finish line together. It was my 10th career ironman finish and my 5th Chessyman. Although somewhere around that second run loop, I began to question my sanity and wondered why I do what I do, by the time I crossed the tape, I knew I was coming back next year. It was another great day and great experience. Thanks to Vigo, his crew, and my family for allowing dreams to come true. This race was far from my best effort. But, the knee held up and I got it done. And all in all, it was a great time.

A few post scripts .

ps1 – Our younger daughter Danielle is a freshman at Temple. She wanted to be there but we urged her to do the college thing and go to homecoming weekend. That was a mistake as she was missed and homecoming was sort of a bust. We made sure we called her throughout the day to keep her dialed in to my progress. Danielle will be there next year.

ps2 – Tim Durning – You are the man. I was so impressed by your support and encouragement. I can’t thank you enough. “More Stones”.

ps3- George Alteri and Fred Sommer – It’s always a pleasure and an honor to hang out with you guys. Thanks for all you both do for the sport. Fred, I can’t believe you still have the IRONTOE rock from the original GFT TRIBE rock garden.

ps4 – Wendy – It was great to finally meet you and your awesome husband. Sorry if I spooked you on the run.

ps5 – Jeff Candyman Gura – You are my ironman brother of 8 years. It was great to see you and hang out at yet another race.

ps6 – There is no doubt that I missed something or someone and for that I apologize. Thanks to everyone for a great weekend. My family rocks.

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Riding the Jersey Coast

By Steve | Published: July 7, 2008

It was a little warm this weekend. Ok, it was 94 degrees with a heat index of 105 so maybe it was more than a little warm. But it was still a great day to be on a bike. Especially near the beach. I call my “home” home suburban Philadelphia. Upper Darby to be specific. But I call my other home Ocean City, New Jersey. A typical shore (yes, we call it a shore here in the East as in seashore…) community with a blend of weekend warriors, day-trippers, weekly vacationers, and permanent and part time residents.

 Although very flat, the shore can be a great place to ride with nice wide shoulders, and plenty of riding options featuring picturesque views and the often present scent of an ocean breeze.  On Saturday, I headed out at about 7 AM with a couple of modest goals in mind. First, to fully road test my nutrition intake plan, second, to log 100 miles of riding and third, to enjoy every minute of it. Or at least enjoy most of it. It sounded easy enough. And after the ride I knew I’d be able to kick back and enjoy a few well deserved hours on the beach.

What I didn’t realize was that someone had added a few extra agenda items for me. Apparently someone thought I needed to practice changing a flat tire (twice) and wanted to test my patience and resolve in the meantime. Although those items popped up just 15 miles into the ride, I handled them effortlessly and resumed my journey. No problem. I rode through beautiful Belleplaine State forest and revisited the venue of the Cape May Triathlon which was held a month earlier.

I then made my way all the way down a strip known as Ocean Drive. Ocean Drive essentially hugs the coast and runs through all of the South Jersey beach towns. It’s very scenic as you travel over the bridges and causeways. If you can block out the congestion at certain points as people try to get to the beach, it is a beautiful place to ride.

There are a few things that you will see every time you head out to ride at the Shore. I’m not sure what it is about road kill and flea markets in South Jersey but she sure has her share of both of them. Interesting road kill too. And a lot of unidentifiable road kill. Snake road kill, skunk road kill, turtle road kill, um … some other kind of road kill. You name it; you’ll see it. And if you can’t name it, you’ll still see it. You may see it for the next couple of weeks. And it’ll get a little funkier each time. Maybe the birds of prey can’t recognize some of these things either and figure it is best to just leave them alone. 

I reached my turnaround point on Ocean Drive and decided to pull over for a minute to enjoy the scenery, choke down a gel, and make a quick cell call. In that 5 minute period, I think I had 2 cars and 5 cyclists check on me to make sure that I was OK and didn’t need any help. I’ve said this many times before, but I still get blown away by the camaraderie that one sees out there on the road. I finished my gel, ended my call and headed back. The ride back on Ocean Drive always seems much faster. I’m not sure if it’s the wind or the psychological effect of going home. But whatever it is, it works. 

Of course I had had a couple of interpersonal exchanges with a few people along the way home. No ride would be complete without them. There was the guy in the passenger seat of a nice red convertible who felt the need to look right at me and spit at my feet as we sat at a red light. No problem bud, have a good day.

But for every irate and ignorant phlegm-meister, there is a kid with a lemonade stand there to make things all right. Of course, I had to pull over and fill up with some fresh squeezed and give the kid an extra three dollar tip. I made his day but not half as much as he made mine. Spend that money wisely dude. 

So, I made my way back home. Shoveled in a couple of PB & J’s and listened to my neighbors remind me of how slightly off center I can be. I just smiled politely and said … “thanks”. After a quick shower, I found myself perched quite comfortably in my favorite chair on the beach enjoying the sights and sounds of the Jersey Shore. Mission(s) accomplished. My nutrition worked out. I got my 100 miles in. And I enjoyed every minute of it. As I reflected back on another great ride, I reminded myself how lucky I am.

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Beyond the Finish Line

By Steve | Published: June 5, 2008

There has been much documentation and fanfare surrounding the ironman triathlon finish line. It remains one of the most motivating and impressive images around. You can’t talk about that finisher chute with its screaming spectators without getting the juices flowing. In fact I have an ironman finish line poster hanging in my office right in front of me and I can’t look at it enough. But let’s look beyond that finish line for a minute.

Truly one of the most energizing and awe inspiring things that I have ever experienced is the post race buzz created after an iron distance race. Sure there is a lot of pre race buzz but that is much different. It’s still exciting and electrifying but there is a lot of apprehension and nervous tension in the air prerace. But after the race all of the emotions erupt. For many people the ironman journey begins years before the actual race. At a minimum, the quest starts a year before the race. So for all that time you train and you train and you read and you inquire and you train and you stress and you obsess and if all goes well, you are blessed with being able to run, walk, or crawl across that seemingly elusive finish line. This is the ultimate culmination of all of your hard work. You have made it… “You are an IRONMAN” And when the finisher’s medal is placed around your neck, you have just attained the quintessential triathlon brass ring. You look at, you embrace it, you kiss it, and you hold it up for all to see. You swear you will sleep with your medal, never wash your numbers off, and leave your athlete’s race bracelet on for at least a week.

After mulling around the finish area for a while to cheer on your friends, you finally decide you have had enough for one day. And eventually, at some point you find your way back to your hotel. You are exhausted but completed elated. Still buzzing and talking a mile a minute about your day. Eventually, you may feel like a few thugs with baseball bats had pummeled you for a dozen plus hours. You may have aches and pains in parts of your body that you never knew existed. But it is probably the most gratifying pain you will ever experience. You know you have accomplished your goals. And if you’re mortal, you know you will be taking some time off from racing and training. Some time to just relax and enjoy it. Some time off to savor it.

After a month long shower and a well-deserved beverage of choice you find yourself sitting in bed replaying the day over and over again. Yes – with the medal still around your neck. Eventually you drift off to one of the best night’s sleep you have had in quite some time. And you don’t need to set an alarm. Not this time. No way. You are going to sleep in until at least 8 or so.

If you’re anything like me, you may need to make a few trips to the bathroom during the night due to all of your ultra hydration during the day. And with each step you’ll probably say “Ouch! This feels awesome”

The day after can be summed up in one word – “ahhh”. You spend it doing a whole lot of nothing and loving a whole lot of everything. You meet up with friends and eat basically everything that is not nailed down. You are still glowing from the day before and are now getting excited about picking up your pictures and going to the awards dinner. You make your way to the evening’s festivities – the awards dinner and banquet.

OK, the food is probably not going to win any awards but that doesn’t matter. In that tent you will find a thousand or two of your newest and closest friends all (very) slowly walking around wearing a finisher’s T shirt and oh yes that medal that never came off. More smiles than you can imagine. And everyone has a story to tell. They’ll tell stories about an aid station, or a volunteer or a flat tire. Stories about people they ran with along the way and how friendly everyone was. Even talk about registering for next year’s race. You look around the tent and see so much happiness and positive energy. You have formed new friendships that will last a very long time.

As the award presentations commence you find yourself drifting in and out of awareness. You are interested in the speaker but even more interested in all of the balloons and festivities and the expressions on everyone’s faces. You are curious about all of their individual stories. Some are probably a lot like your own. Some are probably very different. But you all now share one thing. You are made of iron. A distinction and an accolade that can never made taken away from you, even if you never race another race. You have done it. Embrace it and savor it but don’t boast about it. Your accomplishment will become you. You don’t need to walk around and announce it to everyone. You have become part of a very special extended family. You are an ironman.

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Catching the Ponytail

By Steve | Published: May 22, 2008

Forbidden Drive in Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Park is one of my favorite places to run. The Drive itself offers a relatively flat and soft surface with amazing views of the river. But all it takes is a quick turn off of the main Drive and you are faced with some of the best and most challenging trails anywhere. And you will not be alone on the Drive. Depending on the time and day, you can usually find a nice mix of runners, walkers, mountain bikers & dogs. (No mountain bike riding dogs-usually)

I had a great run there the other day and found myself pitted in a little friendly competition as I sometimes do. You know the situation. On any given day you will find yourself surrounded by runners of varied speed and ability. Many will blow right by you. You will blow others away. During most runs, none of it matters. Every once in a while you come across a certain someone who is running at just about the same pace as you. When that happens to me, I immediately shift my mindset from “Isn’t this a great place to run” to “Bring it on”. If they are behind you, you feel the need to increase the gap. If they are ahead of you, you immediately throw a mental lasso around them as you try to determine your strategy for reeling them in.

It happened Saturday when a little blonde ponytail came scampering out of nowhere from a trail and merged onto the Drive about 40 yards in front of me. At first I thought overtaking her would only be a matter of a minute or two. But she knew I was back there and she was determined to not let that happen.

So I turned my running cap around, shifted into another gear and increased my turnover a little bit. And so did she. Our gap remained the same. I am a decent climber, so with each subtle incline, I gained ground on her. The problem is, with each flat; she accelerated and put me back in my place. OK, this was not going to be easy. But I stayed my course and started to realize that I really was closing the gap – slowly. But since I had no idea where she would be finishing, I didn’t know how much time I had to catch her.

Finally, I started to make more substantial gains and the closer I got, the faster I went. Or so it felt. With about a quarter of a mile from what ended up being her finish line, I finally pulled up next to her, smiled and commented “You were not going to let that be easy for me, were you?” We both had a chuckle and then she said that she would enjoy pacing off of me for the rest of the trip.

We cruised into Valley Green and she went her way to her car. I grabbed a quick drink, turned around and headed back to where I started. I was content to just cruise home and enjoy the scenery. But the competitor in me took more than a little bit of pride in catching that ponytail. I didn’t come home with a finisher’s t-shirt, certificate, or medal, merely the exhilarating satisfaction of the chase and the catch.

Thanks for the great run…whoever you are.

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"Be the change you wish to see in the world " - Gandhi
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